[hmbmd116]

My new X5 has BMW Digital Key Plus where my iPhone and Apple Watch can function like the key fob. How many of you in this forum are confident enough with this technology to leave your BMW key fobs at home?

[gadgetfreak2024]

Originally Posted by hmbmd116

My new X5 has BMW Digital Key Plus where my iPhone and Apple Watch can function like the key fob. How many of you in this forum are confident enough with this technology to leave your BMW key fobs at home?

My wife had a failure with this last week with our 50e. It might have been a bit of user error but not entirely clear. It seemingly works great for me but if it fails, you are SOL.

So we ordered an extra key card as a backup. I have one in my wallet and wife will as well. And on road trips we will take the FOB.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreak2024

My wife had a failure with this last week with our 50e. It might have been a bit of user error but not entirely clear. It seemingly works great for me but if it fails, you are SOL.

So we ordered an extra key card as a backup. I have one in my wallet and wife will as well. And on road trips we will take the FOB.

Maybe it changed in iD8 but only one key card can be used per vehicle in iD7.

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by hmbmd116

My new X5 has BMW Digital Key Plus where my iPhone and Apple Watch can function like the key fob. How many of you in this forum are confident enough with this technology to leave your BMW key fobs at home?

Zero confidence in having it unlock the car. So I use the BMW app to unlock, then the phone/wallet in the slot to start the car. Bottom line though - if I’m driving away (and not re-parking the car), I’m using the FOB. Tried texting the key to a contact as well - didn’t work.

[FastMarkA]

I must admit, the first 10-12 rides I went out with my phone and the fob, just to be safe.

In the last few weeks, I've "taken off the training wheels" and DK+ has worked flawlessly, carrying only my phone.

Even though I study these cars quite a bit, I did overlook DK+ availability in the LCI, so it was a nice surprise coming from the 45e.

Consider me one who leaves the house with just a phone and wallet now.

[Blue87]

I frequently take only my phone and the card on drives and haven't had any issues yet. The redundancy is there however, the last time my vehicle was in for work, they disassociated my phone and card and took a few weeks before it would re-associate. Bottom line: Once setup, it's seems to be flawless.

[BigEvan1923]

Originally Posted by hmbmd116

My new X5 has BMW Digital Key Plus where my iPhone and Apple Watch can function like the key fob. How many of you in this forum are confident enough with this technology to leave your BMW key fobs at home?

I've been using it without the fob for 2 weeks with no problems at all.

[gadgetfreak2024]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Maybe it changed in iD8 but only one key card can be used per vehicle in iD7.

That’s interesting. My dealer was happy to take my money for a second card which they said had to be VIN coded there. But that doesn’t mean the dealer knows what they are doing! I’m sure they are blinded by every available additional dollar. Will keep this forum posted once I learn whether we can in fact have two cards.

[mojoJJ]

+1 for leaving the keys at home. I’ve put the card in my wallet for emergencies but 1500 miles and no issues whatsoever. The car locks and unlocks flawlessly and we can drive away with phones in pocket. My wife and I both have the keys on iPhones and depending on who’s driving, the car logs in and selects seats, mirrors, HVAC etc.

LCI X6. ID8

[doublezero]

It's a great feature. I've not had it fail me in the maybe 8 mo i've used it. I felt more confident in the digital key after accidentally going on vacation with the phone only. It's a bit less convenient for auto-opening and quick remote opening, but nice to not have to have something else in pocket to keep up with. Sometimes it just needs a few extra seconds of patience to be recognized on the handle or in the charge station.

[g8who]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreak2024

That’s interesting. My dealer was happy to take my money for a second card which they said had to be VIN coded there. But that doesn’t mean the dealer knows what they are doing! I’m sure they are blinded by every available additional dollar. Will keep this forum posted once I learn whether we can in fact have two cards.

Out of curiosity do you mind sharing how much the extra card was and how long does it take to order?

[mojoJJ]

Originally Posted by g8who

Out of curiosity do you mind sharing how much the extra card was and how long does it take to order?

Extra card is $50 and my dealer said 2-3 weeks. I didn’t check whether multiple cards can be paired with the vehicle, but looking at the fact that BMW just doesn’t sell it on their parts website kinda indicates that it’s just like the physical key fobs.

[Giggler]

I had two main issues with it...

Lock/unlock on approach (Comfort Access) works well when you stow away your key fob when not in use... but I always have my phone on me. So, the car is constantly unlocking whenever I am near the garage or walking past my car to do something else. I might just disable the unlock feature to solve this.

I found that the tailgate will not open, have to pull out phone, unlock the screen, load the wallet, select the key and then press the hatch release button. Maybe there's a setting I need to change for unlock all doors and hatch when unlocking the car? This is so much more of a process than just using the keyfob to get the hatch open.

[gadgetfreak2024]

Originally Posted by g8who

Out of curiosity do you mind sharing how much the extra card was and how long does it take to order?

I paid 75 (so got minorly fleeced relative to the other contributor who paid 50).

I did pick up the card today and they paired it to the car. They said I had to bring both fobs with me in order to be able to do that. No idea if that is factually correct.

In any event, it seems to work, so with ID8, I have two cards now -- one for each of my and my wife's wallets. We'll still be relying on our iPhones and Apple Watches 99% of the time, but this will be a nice piece of mind backup.

That being said, I'm still bringing an actual fob on a road trip.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreak2024

I paid 75 (so got minorly fleeced relative to the other contributor who paid 50).

I did pick up the card today and they paired it to the car. They said I had to bring both fobs with me in order to be able to do that. No idea if that is factually correct.

In any event, it seems to work, so with ID8, I have two cards now -- one for each of my and my wife's wallets. We'll still be relying on our iPhones and Apple Watches 99% of the time, but this will be a nice piece of mind backup.

That being said, I'm still bringing an actual fob on a road trip.

I'm sure you did, but did you verify that your initial key card still works. Previously it would replace the first one if I remember correctly. In reading the 50e manual it seems like they change the logic for the key card in regards to digital keys so that may be why more than one is supported.

[gadgetfreak2024]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

I'm sure you did, but did you verify that your initial key card still works. Previously it would replace the first one if I remember correctly. In reading the 50e manual it seems like they change the logic for the key card in regards to digital keys so that may be why more than one is supported.

Unfortunately I did NOT do that while at the dealer. I was on the phone and didn’t think to check. I just tried the original card and alas it is apparently not working. Walked up without my phone or watch or fob. I could not get the door to unlock. Ugh. Wish my dealer was actually knowledgeable about these things. I’m assuming they will refund me — but shall see. The marginal cost of the plastic and rfid chip has gotta be pretty darn close to $0.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreak2024

Unfortunately I did NOT do that while at the dealer. I was on the phone and didn’t think to check. I just tried the original card and alas it is apparently not working. Walked up without my phone or watch or fob. I could not get the door to unlock. Ugh. Wish my dealer was actually knowledgeable about these things. I’m assuming they will refund me — but shall see. The marginal cost of the plastic and rfid chip has gotta be pretty darn close to $0.

Sorry to hear that, I was hoping it would work.

[gadgetfreak2024]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Sorry to hear that, I was hoping it would work.

Yes. Is a shame. Thanks for highlighting the concern though. Otherwise could have found myself relying on my backup card only to find it inactive.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreak2024

…
I did pick up the card today and they paired it to the car. They said I had to bring both fobs with me in order to be able to do that. No idea if that is factually correct.
…

they are correct. setting up the key card requires both key fobs be present inside the vehicle. (sorry they didn’t know that pairing one just replaces the other. you should be able to get your money back.)

[JohnNick72]

Originally Posted by hmbmd116

My new X5 has BMW Digital Key Plus where my iPhone and Apple Watch can function like the key fob. How many of you in this forum are confident enough with this technology to leave your BMW key fobs at home?

On my ‘22 X5 M50i, I have a hard key and my iPhone paired to my user profile & they work interchangeably without issue. I also use my Apple Watch periodically without the phone and it works flawlessly too if not a little awkward to hold over the tray when starting. I actually haven’t used the card other than to test it, and it does work fine also.

I’ve got complete confidence in the system. That said sometimes it takes more than one try for whatever reason, and sometimes it works a little faster or slower for whatever reason. Also, it can take a minute to link to the user profile (sometimes). All minor “glitches” vs the convenience of not carrying a key or phone for short trips, or whatever.

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

I'm sure you did, but did you verify that your initial key card still works. Previously it would replace the first one if I remember correctly. In reading the 50e manual it seems like they change the logic for the key card in regards to digital keys so that may be why more than one is supported.

Not sure when it was added but even with iD7 two NFC key cards are supported. I have 2 active on my 2020 M850i (iD7 07/2023.40 but worked on previous release). One stays in my wallet and the other in my home office drawer. Key (pun intended) on the latter is if my wife is sleeping in on Saturday (she goes through hell on a weekly basis as a teacher) I can use the NFC card in the office to run an errand without waking her up (all of our fobs are in a basket on the dresser in the MBR along with my wallet but have digital pay on my cellphone).

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

they are correct. setting up the key card requires both key fobs be present inside the vehicle. (sorry they didn’t know that pairing one just replaces the other. you should be able to get your money back.)

That's an iD8 thing as on iD7 it only requires the fob in the car one wants the NFC card to "attach to" from a driver's profile perspective.

That said with iD7 there was a registration process done by the dealer for security purposes before one could activate a NFC card. Most dealers appeared to have done it as default as part of vehicle delivery but those that didn't caused havoc and hence a long rambling thread for NFC card activation on the 8-series forum. 😜

With iD8 at least for the Digital Key Plus activation you need both fobs in the car to prove ownership (easier than the dealer process for iD7). Guessing the same for the NFC key but mine came already activated so just had to link it to my profile in the 40i.